This funding opportunity is part of the European Defence Fund (EDF) 2026 Development Actions (EDF-2026-DA), which supports collaborative defence capability development through actual-cost grants awarded via a call for proposals. The overall EDF-2026-DA call is organised around 13 topics and addresses multiple categories of actions, with an indicative total budget of 562 000 000 EUR. Within this call, the topic on an Enhanced cognitive electronic warfare (EW) system with intelligent signal analysis focuses on advancing next-generation EW capabilities for the maritime domain.

The general objective reflects the rapid evolution of radiofrequency electronics, digital technology, and machine learning, which is enabling a transition from traditional multiple-sensor approaches to multi-sensor netted EW systems. In contested maritime environments, EU naval platforms require scalable, adaptable and interoperable EW solutions that can integrate with unmanned vehicles (UxV) to strengthen situational awareness. The topic emphasises the introduction of a cognitive layer through artificial intelligence (AI) and massive data processing to accelerate decision-making and response times, potentially automating certain threat responses while requiring renewed attention to human-machine control and rules of engagement.

The specific objective is to demonstrate the potential of AI and other advanced technologies to enhance radar electronic support measures (RESM) and communications electronic support measures (CESM) within an EW demonstrator. The goal is to help EU platforms maintain technological superiority, maximise interoperability and increase EU strategic autonomy by reducing dependencies on third countries. The topic is aligned with EU-level maritime initiatives and aims to act as an enabler for both the European naval industry and navies of EU Member States and EDF associated countries. It also contributes to STEP objectives in the investment area of deep and digital technologies.

The scope requires proposals to develop a technology integration demonstrator as a foundation for a future cognitive EW system integrated with a platform’s self-defence and combat management system (CMS). The demonstrator should combine software and hardware, implementing the cognitive model in software and integrating it with reference multiband RF modules to demonstrate key functions. Mandatory activities include: (1) integrating knowledge by reviewing state of the art AI-in-EW for naval use, identifying emerging technologies, and producing a technology roadmap including AI sections and TRL targets; (2) studies to develop challenging multidomain scenarios, define operational concepts, requirements and performance metrics, assess spectrum protection measures, platform integration feasibility, SWaP-C reduction options, data fusion and simulations; and (3) design activities to create interoperable and scalable open-architecture concepts, define interface standards, develop AI-enabled spectrum management algorithms, model system performance, and build and functionally test the demonstrator in a controlled laboratory environment supported by simulation.

Proposals are encouraged to show synergies with related EDF and PADR topics (e.g., radar/EW functions, digital ship architectures, multi-domain cloud, advanced radar, covert sensing, and multiband 4D radar) and to ensure consistency with naval collaborative surveillance and future naval platform initiatives. The expected end result is a scalable, modular and interoperable enhanced cognitive EW demonstrator capable of multiband operations, collaborative sensing, distributed geolocation (e.g., TDOA), spectrum mapping, and AI-supported threat classification, database updates, and adaptive response actions.

Opening: 22.01.2026
Deadline(s): 29.09.2026